Environmental attitudes and fertility desires among US adolescents from 2005–2019

• Published in: Journal of marriage and family 2023-04, Vol.85 (2), p.631-644
• Main Authors: Rackin, Heather M., Gemmill, Alison, Hartnett, Caroline Sten
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Anxiety; Attitudes; Beliefs; Carbon footprint; Childbearing; Childbirth & labor; Children; Children & youth; Climate; Climate change; College Students; Decision making; Environment; Environmental attitudes; Environmental degradation; Environmental impact; Environmental protection; Families & family life; Family Size; Family Structure; Fertility; Fertility decline; fertility desires; fertility intentions; Government; Government School Relationship; Life transitions; Political identity; Politics; Preferences; Religiosity; Social activism; Taxation; Young Adults; Youth
• ISSN: 0022-2445; 1741-3737
• DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12885

Objective This brief report examines links between environmental attitudes and fertility desires over time in the United States. Background To understand fertility decision making, it is important to identify factors that influence fertility desires. Concerns about environmental problems may be associated with lower desired fertility, especially in recent cohorts transitioning to adulthood. Youth may feel that having one less child can reduce their “carbon footprint” or may be unwilling to bring children into an uncertain and difficult future due to climate change. Method Data are from 12th graders in the Monitoring the Future study (2005–2019; N = 34,104). Regression is used to examine the relationship between number of children wanted and agreement that the government should deal with environmental problems even if it means paying more taxes. Results Those who endorsed that government should deal with environmental problems reported lower average fertility desires than those who did not. The association was driven by a decreased desire for large families (four or more children) rather than normatively sized families (2–3 children). Political identity and religiosity attenuated but did not explain the association. There was some evidence of stronger associations in 2017–2019. Conclusion Evidence showed associations between environmental attitudes and childbearing preferences that may have strengthened over time. Implications Environmental attitudes may be a factor in the recent decline in youth's fertility desires and could have consequences for future fertility.